ABSTRACT
There is considerable support for shifting the focus away from moderate-to- vigorous exercise toward increasing low-to-moderate intensity physical activity. Experimental work has shown that low-intensity incidental activity rather than moderate- or vigorous-intensity activity distinguishes the lean from the obese (Levine et al. , 2008a, b). Convincing evidence in animals verifies this proposition, showing benefit in lipid metabolic pathways from increasing low- intensity activity, as opposed to vigorous-intensity exercise (Hamilton et al., 2007). Serum cholesterol and triglyceride have been found to decrease after only 1 week of increased moderate intensity physical activity, combined with the consumption of a low fat and high fibre diet (Schmidt et al., 2011). With the current interest in the use of low-to-moderate intensity activity-enhanced video games as an alternative form of physical activity, it is necessary to establish if similar metabolic benefit is conferred by this lower intensity activity. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a short-term low-intensity interactive video-game treadmill walking programme, without dietary manipulation, was effective in altering the lipid profile of obese adolescents.
